Safety cashier{40 s window system and the like

ABSTRACT

A safety system for cashiers windows and the like comprises a portable module for insertion in an opening within a wall. The module consists of a counter or wall and an upwardly extending shield of bullet resistant see-through material on the counter. Upright side walls of bullet resistant material are spaced forwardly of the shield and mounted on the counter and extend laterally of the sides of the shield. Protective bullet resistant baffles extend rearwardly of the side walls beyond the shield to provide a passage for transmission of sound between the clerk and the customer, deflect the sound both ways through the passage between the shield and the side walls and protects an adjacent cashiers shield against bullets fired through the passage. One or more exchange boxes or pass-through devices open to the customer to receive material from the cashier and open to the cashier to receive material from the customer.

United States Patent [191 Sexton [111 3,742,872 [4 1 July 3,1973

Eugene W. Sexton, Detroit, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Total Safe Systems, Inc., Detroit,

Mich.

221 Filed: Nov. 22, 1971 211 Appl. No.: 200,995

[75] Inventor:

6/1969 Germany 109/10 Primary ExaminerDennis L. Taylor Attorney-Cullen, Settle, Sloman & Cantor [57] ABSTRACT A safety system for cashiers windows and the like comprises a portable, module for insertion in an opening within a wall. The module consists of a counter or wall and an upwardly extending shield, of bullet resistant see-through material on the counter. Upright side walls of bullet resistant material are spaced forwardly of the shield and mounted on the counter and extend laterally of the sides of the shield. Protective bullet resistant baffles extend rearwardly of the side walls beyond the shield to provide a passage for transmission of sound between the clerk and the customer, deflectthe sound both ways through the passage between the shield and the side walls and protects an adjacent cashiers shield against bullets fired through the passage. One or more exchange boxes or pass-through devices open to the customer to receive material from the cashier and open to the cashier to receive material from the customer.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDJIIL 3 ms 3.742.872

INVENTOR.

EUGENE M. SEX TDN.

CULLEN, SETTLE, SLOMAN 8 CANTOR ATT'YS.

SHEEI 2 F2 PATENIEI) Jlll 3 an INVENTQR. EUGENE M. SEXTON.

CULLEN, SETTLE, SLOMAN 8 CANTUR.

ATT'YS.

SAFETY CASHIER'S WINDOW SYSTEM AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to safety systems, and more in particular to anti-robbery devices providing a safety partition between the employee of a service facility on one side and the customer on the other side.

It is known that service facilities, especially such which have open counters as in banks, loan offices, dry cleaners, credit offices in stores, food services, etc, are most common targets of robberies. Robberies at these facilities in instances not only lead to the theft of cash or goods but sometimes result in injury or death of an employee behind the counter.

Although various safety systems for these facilities have been proposed, some of which have been actually installed, these known systems embody a great many drawbacks and in some instances are ineffective.

Most of these known systems employ electronic devices to monitor the action of a potential customer in front of the counter of the service facility to guard against any intended robbery attempt by enabling the employee, or the center monitoring station, to set off an alarm or activate appropriate safety devices. These systems obviously are very expensive and not always effective and are generally uneconomical for smaller establishments.

Other known safety systems herebefore suggested, propose the installation of bullet resistant cashiers windows in banks and other money handling facilities to protect the employee against injury by prospective robbers. These systems are likewise expensive and require the installation of a sound system to permit clear communication between the customer and the employee.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved robber proof safety system for the counter top of a service facility, including bullet resistant partitions between the customer and employee which are arranged such and of such structure as to permit clear vision as well as clear communication between the employee and the customer without sacrificing any safety features embodied in this system.

In summary, the present invention provides a clear view, bullet resistant safety barrier in combination with adjoining bullet resistant side walls which are spaced a distance from the outer edge of the safety barrier for the transmission of sound between the customer in front of the barrier and the employee behind the barrier. The adjoining side walls are provided with inwardly, to the employees side, extending bullet resistant baffle members for the deflection of sound in both directions between the passages provided between the safety barrier and the adjoining side walls. The bullet resistant baffles provide protection for adjoining counters against the eventuality of fire arms being discharged through the space provided between the safety barrier and the adjoining, overlapping side walls, and additionally acts as the support members for the side walls, eliminating all other vertical structural members.

The safety barrier extends partially into a pair of adjacent exchange chutes or other pass-through devices extending underneath the safety barrier and constructed such as to positively prevent reaching through by a would be robber.

The present safety system is constructed in the manner of a self-contained unit or module which can be quickly and easily installed in place of ordinary counter tops or cashiers windows and does not require a separate sound system for communication between the employee and the customer.

Additional novel features and distinct advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent by the following detailed description having reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings schematically illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of the selfcontained safety cashier window system;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing the improved safety cashier window system in installed position within a wall;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 4 is a cross section through the safety window and associated exchange chute as seen along line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With continuing reference to the drawings, the present safety window system comprises a self-contained unit 10 for installation within a wall 12 which may be a partition wall of the respective facility in which the safety window of the present invention is employed.

The unit 10 is provided with a base 14 which provides a counter top for the safety window. Attached to the base 14 are a pair of channel'members 16 and 18 which are spaced apart to be adjacent opposite ends of the base 14. Channel members 16-18, which may be made of stainless steel, aluminum, or the like, are bolted to the base 14 and are in longitudinal coplanar alignment with each other and with the wall 12.

The opposite channels 16 and 18 are adapted to retain each a side wall member 20 and 22, respectively, of bullet resistant material, which are secured within the channels by means of fasteners 24. As seen in FIG. 2, each of the side walls 20 and 22 extends partially within notches provided in the building wall or partition 12. Alternately, channels are attached to the building wall to receive the upright edges of the side walls.

Rearwardly of the side walls, a safety barrier 26 is provided which spans the open space between the opposed side walls and partly overlaps the side walls a short distance on both sides. The safety barrier 26 is spaced a distance rearwardly of side walls 20-22 by means of spacers 28 and is fastened to both of the side walls by means of bolts 30 extending through the spacers 28. By this arrangement a passage is provided between the overlapping ends of safety barrier 26 and the respective side walls 20-22 for a purpose to appear.

The safety barrier 26 is made of a bullet resistant seethrough material, such as clear acrylic or the like to provide a window.

Adjacent both ends of the safety barrier 26 and spaced-a distance therefrom are a pair of baffle mem bers 32 and 34, respectively, which extend at a right angle from the rear of the side walls 20 and 22 and are secured thereto by means of fasteners 36, or any equivalent connector including channels at top and bottom of the baffles, walls and barriers. The baffle members 32-34 extend transverse to the direction of the passages between the safety barrier 26 and side walls 20-22 for effective deflection of sound or any material projected through the passage. Thus, barrier 26 and the overlapping edges of side walls 20-22 in conjunction with the baffle members 32-34, provide an effective communication system between a customer in front of the safety window and an employee behind it. At the same time, the baffle members 32-34, which are likewise made of bullet resistant material, prevent any attempt by a would-be robber to discharge a gun or threaten with a gun any person behind the wall 12 of the facility.

For the safe exchange of material between a customer and an employee on opposite sides of the safety barrier 26, the intermediate lower end of the safety barrier 26 between the side walls 20-22 is cut away to provide a rectangular recess having an upper edge surface 38. A plurality of vertical notches 40 or other recesses are provided in safety barrier 26 which extend from the recess surface 38 upwardly, as shown in FIG. 3. One of the notches is located along the center of safety barrier 26 and the remaining notches are located directly adjacent the side walls 20-22. The notches, as to shape, and location will conform with the shape and location of the upright members of any pass-through employed.

Though not part of the present invention, described hereunder is an illustrative pass-through which may be employed with the present protective system.

As seen in FIG. 1, the space provided by the recess in safety barrier 26 is adapted to receive an exchange box 42 which is composed of two adjoining identical but reversely arranged exchange chutes 44 and 46 which are divided from each other by a wall 48 which extends into the center notch 40 of safety barrier 26. Each of the exchange chutes 44-46 comprise a substantially rectangular box having each an outer side wall 50 or 52 adapted for extension into the respective outer notches 40 of safety barrier 26 and the common inner side wall 48. The opposed ends of exchange chutes 44-46 are closed by wall members of different heights, comprising a wall member 54 which extends the full height of the side walls of the exchange chutes, and a wall member 56 of considerably shorter height.

In the example illustrated, exchange chute 46 is arranged having its larger height end wall 54 towards the front of the safety window, that is, towards the customer, and its shorter end wall 56 at the rear of the safety barrier. Thus, the high end wall overlaps for a substantial distance a portion of safety barrier 26 between the notches 40, as seen in FIG. 4. Adjacent exchange chute 44 is arranged having its high end wall 54 in the rear of safety barrier 26, that is, at the employees side, and its lower end wall 56 in front of the safety barrier towards the customer. It will be noted that the upper edge of end wall 56 is spaced a substantial distance lower than the edge 38 of the recess of safety barrier 26 to provide an access space.

Accordingly, exchange chute 46 provides a means for a customer in front of safety window to put money, checks or other material in the chute 46 over the high end wall 54 for receipt by the employee behind safety barrier 26. Conversely, chute 44 provides a means for a customer in front of safety barrier 26 to receive material from the employee behind safety barrier 26 by access into the chute provided by lower end wall 56.

With additional reference to FIG. 4, exchange chutes 44-46 have a common bottom 58 by means of which they are secured to the counter top 14 by means of fasteners 60. Each of exchange chutes 44-46 is provided with a material support member 62 in the form of a curvilinear membrane extending from the top of the higher end wall 54 to the top of the lower end wall 56 by curving underneath the edge 38 of the recess of safety barrier 56. The support membrane 62 may be made of any kind of sufficiently rigid, smooth material such as plastic, hard rubber or the like, to permit easy sliding of the material to be dispensed through the chute to the bottom of the chute at the receiving end. The walls and bottom of the exchange box 42 are preferably made of sheet steel to be sufficiently rigid and tamper proof. Conversely, they could be made of the same bullet resistant material as is used for the side walls and baffle members.

The present safety system may or may not have a pass-through device. The specific pass-through has been described for illustration, and is not a part of the present invention.

Although a customer in front of the safety window 10 can easily empty the chute 44, or any other passthrough device, of the material received from the employee at the other side of the safety window, it can be seen in FIG. 4, that it would be impossible for any would-be robber to reach through the chute beyond the safety barrier 26 and over the top of the high end wall 54. Thus, the present construction provides an effective safety measure against anyone intending to reach into the cash drawer or other receptacle containing valuables which may be disposed behind the safety barrier.

The safety window assembly, is a self-contained unit ready for installation within the building wall or a partition wall as usually employed in banking facilities or the like, or in other facilities which exchange products or materials. The side walls, safety barrier and baffle members may be of any desired suitable height and may extend up to the ceiling or up to the upper edge of partition walls or the unit may just be a window like opening in the primary wall structure.

Although the side walls 20-22, as well as baffle members 32-34, could be made of the same bullet resistant material as is used for the safety barrier 26, that is, clear acrylic or a similar material, they can be made of any other known bullet resistant material and could be colored or shaded otherwise to supplement the decor of the surrounding area.

Thus, the present invention provides a simplified, relatively inexpensive, safety cashiers window system comprising a self-contained unit for easy installation and which does not need any auxiliary electronic installations.

The present improved safety cashiers window system is completely foolproof to prevent any robbery attempt or any theft from behind the counter, thus making any robbery or theft attempt futile.

The present improved system does not need a separate sound system for communication between the customer and employee, the sound system being inherently embodied in the present safety system.

The present improved safety system is convenient and easy to work with and in no way hampers normal transaction of business between customer and employee.

Although the present invention has been shown and described by means of an illustrative embodiment, it will be understood that various changes in arrangement and detail may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A safety system for a cashiers window or the like comprising:

a self-contained unit for installation within a wall having an aperture;

said unit comprising a counter top nested in said aperture;

a pair of front side walls on and extending upwardly from said counter top and laterally from the sides of said aperture;

said side walls being spaced apart to define an opena safety barrier extending across said opening and laterally outward thereof and spaced rearwardly of said side walls;

means securing said safety barrier to both of said side walls to provide passage means between said side walls and said safety barrier;

baffle means disposed rearwardly of said side walls extending in a direction across said passage means and spaced a distance therefrom and from the ends of said barrier for the deflection of sound or articles projected through said passage means;

said safety barrier having a recess in the lower portion thereof between the opposite edges of said side walls; and stationary passage means disposed within said recess extending underneath said safety barriers;

said baffle means including an upright plate on said counter extending at right angles from said side walls and secured thereto; said side walls, said safety barrier and said upright plates being made of a bullet resistant clear synthetic material;

said safety barrier being provided with slot means extending from said lower edge of said recess upwardly, adapted to cooperatively receive part of said passage means;

the means securing the safety barrier to the side walls including rearwardly extending spacers between said barrier and side walls;

and fastening means securing said barrier and side walls to said spacers.

2. In the safety system of claim 1, aligned spaced channels secured to said counter, and receiving the lower ends of said side walls; and fastening means between said channels and side walls; upright channels on portions of the wall defining the sides of said aperture; the outer edges of the side walls being nested and secured in said latter channels. a i 

1. A safety system for a cashier''s window or the like comprising: a self-contained unit for installation within a wall having an aperture; said unit comprising a counter top nested in said aperture; a pair of front side walls on and extending upwardly from said counter top and laterally from the sides of said aperture; said side walls being spaced apart to define an opening; a safety barrier extending across said opening and laterally outward thereof and spaced rearwardly of said side walls; means securing said safety barrier to both of said side walls to provide passage means between said side walls and said safety barrier; baffle means disposed rearwardly of said side walls extending in a direction across said passage means and spaced a distance therefrom and from the ends of said barrier for the deflection of sound or articles projEcted through said passage means; said safety barrier having a recess in the lower portion thereof between the opposite edges of said side walls; and stationary passage means disposed within said recess extending underneath said safety barriers; said baffle means including an upright plate on said counter extending at right angles from said side walls and secured thereto; said side walls, said safety barrier and said upright plates being made of a bullet resistant clear synthetic material; said safety barrier being provided with slot means extending from said lower edge of said recess upwardly, adapted to cooperatively receive part of said passage means; the means securing the safety barrier to the side walls including rearwardly extending spacers between said barrier and side walls; and fastening means securing said barrier and side walls to said spacers.
 2. In the safety system of claim 1, aligned spaced channels secured to said counter, and receiving the lower ends of said side walls; and fastening means between said channels and side walls; upright channels on portions of the wall defining the sides of said aperture; the outer edges of the side walls being nested and secured in said latter channels. 